Coffinkittie

It's The Little Things Thursday.

2010-11-11T23:06:00.000-05:00

"Goodnight Zoey, I love you!"

"Good night mommy, I love you, too!"

"Sweet dreams, I miss you already."

"I love you more!"

"No, I love you more!"

"Be quiet! I love you more, mommy!"

♥

It's The Little Things Thursday.

2010-11-04T17:14:00.001-04:00

Zoey comes up to me with her plushie pony wrapped up.

"I have baby!"

"Awww, so cute," I say, "what do you feed it?"

"Boobies!"

♥

It's The Little Things Thursday.

2010-10-28T03:16:00.001-04:00

Zoey was at the kitchen table piecing together a puzzle.

Kaylee, John, and I were in the living room.

When she was finished, she called out to me, as usual.

I was talking to John so didn't answer quickly enough,

But John did, by asking, "What Zoey?"

She looked at him from the table and says,

with a little-miss-attitude,

"I wasn't talking to YOU!"

♥

It's The Little Things Thursday.

2010-10-21T02:30:00.000-04:00

Yesterday while Zoey was dressing,
she kind of neglected her pants.
She swiftly went to go put on her boots.
I said, "honey, you have to put your pants on first."
She huffs at me, and in a loud tone, replies,
"Oooo-KAY, calm down!"
♥

Fuck Censorship.

2010-10-18T01:18:00.001-04:00

Warning: If you are offended by words, please browse away from this entry. Please and thank you.

There is a shirt I really want to get for my girls to wear that says, "Watch your fucking language there is a goddamn baby in the room". [link] I think it's just so cute. Mind you, a lot of people might not find the humour, especially some of the older generations.

However, I've decided against censorship in my house. It's just something I think it pointless. In fact, I hate censorship in any form. I don't like that one might have to do things differently to appease society's ideals. I know there is a question of respect that comes into play with you disregard the social standards, but I rarely do anything out of ill intent.

When it comes to those 'curse words' I just have to laugh a little. I mean, why are these words EVEN considered bad to begin with? They are just words, simple sounds and letters we have placed together. They are nothing solid, though I will say they can be damn good weapons.

The intent of the words, sometimes, are negative. I get this. However, if you replace the word with something else, you have the same intent, just different words. "That's bull shit, " and "that's crap," is the same meaning, just sugar coated.

I think censorship is counterproductive, as well. It makes it seem more desirable from the outside. It paints this picture of it only being allowed to special people, or adults.

I am not offended by cursing, though I know some people are.

I am not bothered by my daughters saying curse words. Actually, it kind of makes me laugh.

Shit, in the end they'll probably pick it up from school, any ways.

I am trying to train myself away from telling my children they cannot do (or in this instance, say) something. I want them to know the world, for what it is, and make the decisions they feel are best.
These are just my thoughts on this subject.

I don't understand a lot of society's boxes, so I don't bother to try to fit in them.
I think, when all is said and done, that words are words. I can do just as much damage using no curse words as I could using them. It's the intent behind them that make them mean anything more than simple barbaric noises.

--For more on the subject, look into works by George Carlin. :)

It's The Little Things Thursday.

2010-10-14T01:57:00.001-04:00

My daughter plays 'Zombie' now.

She walks around with her arms in front of her

saying, "Zommmbiiiieee."

So I asked,

"What do Zombie's eat?"

"Brows," she replies,

pointing out her forehead.

♥

It's The Little Things Thursday.

2010-10-07T01:54:00.000-04:00

Getting ready to go up stairs with the girls for bedtime,
I went into the kitchen to put something in the fridge.
Zoey comes running in, giggling,
"Kaylee can't see! It's dark!"
I look to see that Zoey has turned off
the lights and the television.
Poor Kaylee just looks at me in silence
with big round eyes.

♥

It's The Little Things Thursday.

2010-09-30T21:36:00.001-04:00

I was in the kitchen preparing a meal.

Kaylee, who was crawling around,

started to leave the room.

I called out to her.

"Where do you think you're going?"

She stopped in the doorway and looked at me.

I swear it sounded like she said,

"Right here!"

Great, 10 months and she's just like mummy:

A smart arse!

♥

Nursery Rhymes: Three Blind Mice

2010-09-28T01:07:00.001-04:00

I decided, as I had so much fun with the last posting on nursery rhymes, that I would do another.
Tonight I picked another well known one that is believed to have a story related to the Mary, Mary, Quite Contrary nursery rhyme.

Just the nursery rhyme itself is a tad bit unsettling, I think. Though, honestly, it also amuses me so very much.
It goes:

Three blind mice, three blind mice,
See how they run, see how they run,
They all ran after the farmer's wife,
Who cut off their tails with a carving knife,
Did you ever see such a thing in your life,
As three blind mice?

What do they claim this is about:
This one is said to be talking about Mary I Of England (Bloody Mary), again.

They claim that referring to her as a farmer's wife has to do with the large estates that she and her husband owned.

And that the three blind mice are to be the three Protestants bishops who were plotting against the queen, who were burnt at the stake.

Now, something I did not do with the last nursery rhyme:

Why this doesn't make sense:
Well, what does dismembering a mouse have to do with a man burnt at the stake? I can get that you would call them blind mice, if you saw them as so believing in a faith that they are blind to other trains of thought. However, that is such a stretch to connect cutting tails off with burning flesh.
(That last sentence seems, briefly before I disregarded it, as a very unlikely sentence to find in a parenting blog. I am amused. Welcome to my place, sit down and we'll have some tea and biscuit, okay? Okay.)

Also, while the original version of this nursery rhyme is found to have been published in 1609, 54 years after the Oxford Martyrs, the version we know today was not entered into children's literature until 1842, nearly three centuries later... Which might not mean a damned thing, really. Though it also begs the question to why children were interested in something that happened hundreds of years before.

I always, though, look at these 'behind the story/rhyme' as for pure entertainment and not to be historical accurate. Maybe there are a few rhymes with some real interesting, and true, stories behind them. Do you know one?
[And, yes, of course I have heard about the story behind Ring Around The Rosie, and sadly it is an urban legend.]

It's The Little Things Thursday.

2010-09-23T12:31:00.000-04:00

My youngest was sitting on the kitchen floor
while I was washing the dishes.
I look back to see she's dragged over one
of her sister's books.
And as she flips through the book
she is hitting herself in the head with each page.

♥

September Giveaway Winner Announcement.

2010-09-20T23:11:00.000-04:00

Congratulations goes to icemaiden013!

If you didn't win, don't fret. You can always find lovely charms like this over at Mystic MoonShadows.

And you can look forward to more giveaways soon.

It's The Little Things Thursday.

2010-09-16T00:06:00.000-04:00

♥

A Moment To Share...

2010-09-14T02:28:00.002-04:00

You will have to forgive me for lack of posting, I've been a bit under the weather and really haven't been in the mood.

I do want to, however, promote today my $5 earring sale. I have seven different designs (hopefully with more to come soon) up for $5 a pair, with free shipping. I'm also offering discounts for purchases over $20.

If you are interesting in purchasing a pair, you can contact me at coffin.kittie.abbie@gmail.com.

Or you can stop by my Etsy store (which I'm, currently, only offering the spiders, faeries, and skull styles).

Also, do not forget to get in on our giveaway. It's currently very low entries, which means you've got a great chance of winning!

Nursery Rhymes: Mary, Mary, Quite Contrary

2010-09-11T00:22:00.005-04:00

Is it just me or are some nursery rhymes, like the original fairy tales, a little grim? (I'm not complaining, just asking.) We have things from black birds pecking off noises, dogs playing dead, to keeping your wife in a pumpkin shell. It's a little assortment of such wonderful stories. My all time favourite is the urban legend about the meaning behind "Ring Around The Rosie".

Today, however, on searching down meanings of nursery rhymes I came across this little gem of a tale.

Mary, Mary, quite contrary,

How does your garden grow?

With silver bells, and cockle shells,

And pretty maids all in a row.

This nursery rhyme, is said, to be alluding to Bloody Mary (Mary Tudor, Mary I Of England).
So, let us break this down line by line:

"How does your garden grow?"
This line is thought to be ridiculing Mary on the inability to produce an heir.
Also, prehaps, it is refering to growing cemeteries, as she filled them with Protestants.

"With silver bells, and cockle shells"
Perhaps this can be referring to devices of torture.
The only references I find to either silver bells and cockle shells go directly back to this rhyme and no independent information. Supposedly silver bells were thumb screws and cockle shells some form of torture instrument of the genitals.

"And pretty maids all in a row."
Some of my research claims this refers to the Maiden, as in the guillotine...
Or, this line is also believed to refer to her several miscarriages.

Other theories are that this nursery rhyme is speaking of the Catholic church, the silver bells being the sanctus bells, the cockleshells the badges of the pilgrims to the shrine of Santiago de Compostela and the pretty maids are to be nuns.
Or, they say, this could be a nursery rhyme of Mary Queen of Scots (though that interutation is only a little less gloomy). In this version the pretty maids all in a row would be the four Maries in waiting.

I look forward to exploring more nursery rhymes and fairy tales with you in the future.
Enjoy your weekend!

It's The Little Things Thursday.

2010-09-09T01:02:00.002-04:00

The other day I came downstairs from a nap with Kaylee.

Zoey was in the kitchen playing at the table with daddy.

She was making goofy faces and sounds at me.

She's smiling from ear to ear.

So I asked her,

"What are you smoking, and can I have some?"

Her reply?

"NO, it's mine!"

♥

First Giveaway Of September CLOSED.

2010-09-07T01:02:00.001-04:00

I am sorry I started this giveaway a little later than planned, my personal life has been stressing me...

So, I'm just going to simply get to the point of my first giveaway for this month.

Not to long ago I came across this very nice artisan Mystic MoonShadows through networking on Facebook.

She had some very lovely pieces, which are all decently priced, in her Etsy shop.

I decided that I would giveaway one of her pieces that I personally bought from her shop for this, along with a virtual $5 Amazon.com card.

BUY IT: Mystic MoonShadows Etsy Shop

WIN IT: I will be giving away one beautiful phone/zipper charm (as pictured above) and a virtual Amazon gift card to ONE lucky winner.

PLEASE READ CAREFULLY TO ENSURE MAXIMUM CHANCE OF WINNING.

Each entry needs a separate comment below. So if you did three of the entries there needs to be three comments below.

Mandatory Entry (If you do not comply with this entry, no other entry will count):
1) Go to Mystic MoonShadow's Etsy Shop and take a look. Then come back here and comment below and tell me what your favourite item is in her shop.
Put your email address on this post.

Additional Entries (1 entry each):
[Leave an additional comment for each that you do.]

2) Follow Mystic MoonShadow's Blog through Google Friend.

3) Follow my Blog through Google Friend (top right).

4) Share this giveaway via Facebook.

5) Share this giveaway via Twitter.

6) Like Coffinkittie on Facebook

(MAXIMUM 6 ENTRIES TOTAL)

~~Giveaway ends on 09/19/2010 at 11:59pm EST.~~

The winner will be chosen with random.org.

The winner will be notified by email and posted on this blog and will have 48 hours to reply.

If the winner does not reply within 48 hours I will draw another winner.

GOOD LUCK!

**I am looking for giveaway ideas and /or sponsors for the next giveaway this month.
Feel free to email me at coffin.kittie.abbie@gmail.com.

It's The Little Things Thursday.

2010-09-02T00:46:00.002-04:00

Year old image, it's amazing how she's grown!

I've taken quite a pleasure in photographing cemeteries.

I haven't be able to do it as much since Kaylee's been born.

Regardless, every time we pass a cemetery Zoey calls out,

"Cemetery! Mummy, get your camera out!"

♥

Baby Leg Warmers Giveaway Winner Announcement

2010-09-01T00:20:00.003-04:00

Congratulations goes to chickloveslotr!

Thanks to all who participated in my giveaway. I hope to be doing two giveways in September, so if you didn't win this time around, there will be more opportunities.

And never fear, you can order these baby leg warmers if you didn't win them. The prices are very decent, if not damn cheap! Check out her Facebook fan page for details!

Times Change

2010-08-30T23:51:00.002-04:00

It's so frustrating sometimes, when you have all these conflicting thoughts when it comes to parenting. One day it's this, the next day it's dangerous or wrong...
Apparently parenting has changed a lot since our mother's and grandmother's were raising children.

Once upon a time, baby powder was an essential, you used it after every diaper change. However, now it is recommend not to be used at all, because the particles can get into the baby's lungs.

Spanking was a form of punishment that has been being used for centuries. I've heard stories of rods, rulers, belts, paddles, and switches. In fact, I remember that my elementary school had a paddle in the front office that was supposedly for disciplinary actions. I, do, however, hope this was just to scare the children, and not actually used on them (because as a parent I would have some serious issues with that).
Then when I had my first daughter, however, I was informed that if someone were to see me spanking my child in a public place, say a supermarket, that I could have children protective services call on me.

Just a few years ago, when I was working on sleeping habits with Zoey I was always encouraged to let her cry it out. Mind you, the sleep training technique is not really to just let them cry until they fall asleep, but more of a way to train your child to learn to self soothe. However, this idea is really not explored well when people just say, "let them cry it out." Research shows us that crying it out can cause brain damage.

I was told, to my shock, that people used Whiskey on a child's gum when they were teething. Alright, I see why it worked, but in the day and age with countless options, I think this one would be my last. The truth of the matter is alcohol is not honestly healthy for anyone at any age, let alone something with such a small body mass.

While I can really go on about the differences in parenting through time, I just wanted to point out a few of the ones that strike me.
I am especially amused/saddened/confused to know that so much of what my grandmother knew about parenting, when she had five little bratty ones, can be tossed aside by scientific research. (My nana was a great mother, grandmother, and now great grandmother, by the way. ♥)
But we all know that mums don't know everything, nor does anyone else, we're just (usually) winging it.
There is no manual here... and even if there were you can't always believe what you read.

In the end, I always parent my children as to what comes naturally to me, and what seems right. There will be mistakes along the way, but this is a learning experience for me as well... I know one thing, though, love doesn't cause respiratory issues, beget violence, or cause brain damage... (Well, until scientific research proves otherwise, of course.)

Reminder.

2010-08-30T00:28:00.002-04:00

My dear friend Leslie drove from CT
to come an see us for the day on Friday.

I've had a very busy weekend.

I've had good things: amazing company, goals accomplished, and napping...
I've had bad things: our car is a POS

Right now I am a little moody, and I have to apologize for a lack of a decent post. I will, however, have something fun coming up tomorrow.

And I need to post a reminder: you've got very little time left to register to win a pair of beautiful toddler/baby legs warmers!
Let's get the word out about this low entry giveaway. Even if you don't have a child from the ages 3 months to 5 years, I bet you might know someone who does.

Baby Leg Warmer Giveaways! Ending 8/31

I do have my next giveaway partially set up, so I'm excited to be able to host another giveaway within the next two weeks. My goal will be to have two in the month of September.

Which, if you would like to sponsor a giveaway, give me a shout.

It's The Little Things Thursday.

2010-08-26T12:42:00.002-04:00

When watching commercials on television

I have made a habit of telling Zoey 'no',

that she doesn't need < insert item here >.

(Bad me.)

Suddenly, now, if I don't say it,

Zoey will tell me,

"Say no, mummy, say no."

♥

13 Ways To Improve Your Mood

2010-08-25T14:12:00.006-04:00

It's easy to fall into a funk, but sometimes not so easy to get out of it.
I thought I would post a few suggestions to help boost and improve your mood.

Turn On Some Dancing Music: Music is a powerful thing. You turn something low and haunting, then you are bound to feel a little sad. So, why not turn on something loud and pulsing? My all time favourite for this is the song Let's Get Retarded by The Black Eyed Peas.
Get Moving: You already turned on the music, now get up and dance. A little work out is simulating, it gets the blood pumping and the lungs working. Exercise also releases endorphins, which we have to love, because it's the body's natural drug.
Clean Your Room: So, you've got the music on, your're moving, let's tackle something tangible. Cleaning something gives your hands something to do and can focus your energies on something else, besides stress or worry. Not to mention, I know I get a big thrill out of the end product.
Jump On Your Bed: I put this after the cleaning, just because it's more fun to jump on a freshly made bed. If you can't jump on your bed, jump on a couch or chair (as long as you can do so safely). Not only is this another psychical activity, but it's also something we associate with children. Sometimes we need to let free, and be a child again.
Get Some Of The To-Do List Tackled: Do you have a list of things you want to do, but never got around to it? Maybe there is a door knob that jiggles or some curtains that need to be washed? Take a few minutes and finish a few of these projects. The sense of accomplishment (and less to do later) can improve a mood.
Make Yourself Up: Put on a nice outfit, do your hair and make-up. It doesn't matter if it is just to do chores around the house or to hang out laundry to dry. Sometimes feeling nice on the outside can make you feel better throughout.
Get Involved In Some Heavy Thinking: Find something that can consume your mind with. I like working out complex math problems or working on Sudoku. I am sure there is something that you can seek out that could challenge and stretch your mind.
Indulge In Something You Love: Maybe it is something as simple as playing with your children, to buying yourself a little something special, or working on a hobby. There is bound to be something you like to do, so do it, even if you can only do it for five minutes.
Do For Others: It doesn't have to break the bank, or consume too much time. Just do something, anything, for another person. Maybe even just a compliment (but don't lie). Doesn't that make you feel good?
Go Outside: If the weather is permitting, get outside. Get your bare feet in the grass and little bit of fresh air. If there is snow, play in it. If there is rain and puddles, dance and jump in them.
Call Up A Friend: I would approach this in just letting your friend talk as much as possible. If you need to, talk your problems through, if you don't then let us not focus on them. Get caught up, perhaps, with a friend you haven't talked to in awhile. Enjoy the company of those who enjoy you.
Take A Closer Look: Sometimes we look at everything as what we do not have, what we have not achieved, and what we have not found. Every once in awhile we need to step back and look at how far we have come and what we have going for us. If we cannot be grateful for what we have, what makes us think we deserve what we haven't got (or that you will be grateful once you get it)?
Love Yourself: Okay, I'm not talking playing with yourself, though I'm sure that wouldn't hurt. I'm saying to accept yourself, as you are now, in whole. Forgive yourself everything you think you did not accomplish, or the things you figured you did wrong. This is very important. If you cannot accept yourself, the good and the bad, then how can anyone else?

I was told awhile back a simple truth that I have carried with me and expanded:

If you don't like it, change it. If you can't change it, let it go. Complaining or stressing over things NEVER gets things accomplished.

The Spanking Debate.

2010-08-24T23:03:00.001-04:00

I admit, I hardly see the world in black and white. Then those few times I do see it as clear cut, I still think in the end it is pretty much: to each their own.

When it comes to spanking, I generally dislike it.
I have tried the best in my family to avoid using it. I feel, personally, that spanking is something you might do out of frustration and anger. I would rather give my daughter a time out, then explain to her, when she's calmed down, what it was that I disagreed with her doing.

However, at the same time I think spanking is not always 'evil'. I know that my parents were spanked (or whipped, or struck with a switch). I also know my grandparents had parents that would give them a lickin' if they got out of hand. I, also, remember a few spanking until I learned to fear the belt.
I do not see any harmful effects passed down. I don't see violence in any of my parents or grandparents, and I'm not very violent either...

While I would, personally, prefer to look for other avenues of punishment, I also want to have all doors open.
I do not want to fear being judged if I do spank my daughter... or worse, fear that some organization would step in and take my loves away from me.

I think there is a line between punishment and abuse.

Goal!

2010-08-23T01:57:00.000-04:00

My youngest is now nine months, and I am happy to still be breastfeeding her.

This has been such a fight, and I feel like I have won the war.

It was bad enough that I had her fed formula when she was away from me in the hospitals (both after birth and during surgery six months later)...

Then I was asked to supplement her with a bottle of high calorie formula, several times a day when she wasn't gaining weight.

I thought for sure, that first time I talked to the doctor and she told me to supplement, that I would fail once again with breastfeeding. I gave her the bottle, but regretted it every single time.

I felt like something was interrupting our lives together.

The supplementing didn't go well (she hated the bottle, unlike her sister), thankfully.

Eventually I was told I could go back to exclusively breastfeeding.

This took awhile of course, because I'm weak and a crying baby would be fed formula after breastfeeding for forty minutes and not seeming full.

However, I am proud to say she's not had formula since she left the hospital from surgery...

And I have not had formula in this house for at least a month before then.

We made it, and she's still loving the breast.

I feel blessed.

Breastfeeding In Public

2010-08-21T19:16:00.000-04:00

Today we went to my future in-law's company picnic at High Meadow in Granby, CT.

Kaylee and I.
(They had face-painting,
hence the spiderweb!)

It was a very crowded place, where several companies and families had gathered to enjoy the events of the day. There were several babies and baby strollers all over the place.

However, I did not see one person breastfeeding a child.
All I saw were bottles.

I think this saddens and frustrated me. I only ever recall seeing one person nursing in public in my lifetime.
I know, when I was failing horribly at nursing my first daughter, that I could have used some images of other mothers breastfeeding. Instead, until recently, I had assumed that breastfeeding was just old-fashioned and rare.

I think it is a real shame.

I have made it a point to feed my daughter when I can, where ever I might be. I am not ashamed, I am not deterred, I will not put other people's opinions before my daughter's needs.

After today I am discouraged. I really do wonder, does breastfeeding in public even exist?